WHAT'S NEXT

The city will seek developer bids to construct a new main library in downtown San Diego and, if elected leaders like the offers, could break ground by July.

The hope is the project's costs will be at or below the 4-year-old estimate of $185 million.

The City Council voted 6-2 Tuesday to pay the project's original architect and construction consultants an additional $500,000 to begin the bidding process. Those bids are expected to come back in April and, at that point, the council will decide whether to proceed with construction.

Council members Carl DeMaio and Sherri Lightner voted against the payment, saying the city should use the money saved by killing the library project to shore up other budget priorities. The city faces a $179 million deficit for next year and is facing cuts to nearly every department, including police and fire.

Council President Ben Hueso said it is key for the city to get a cost estimate and he dismissed budgetary concerns.

“Using the city's financial situation as an excuse for not supporting this project and saying the future is uncertain I think is not a real good reason why we shouldn't support this library today,” he said.

The nine-story library at Park Boulevard and J Street would be a domed civic centerpiece twice the size of the existing facility on E Street. The sixth and seventh floors would be used for a charter school serving about 400 students.

To fund the project, the library is relying on $80 million in city redevelopment funds, $20 million from the San Diego Unified School District and a $20 million state grant. The rest of the project would be covered by private donors who say they have raised $27.5 million so far.

Mayor Jerry Sanders said the city needs to know whether the library will cost more or less than the $185 million figure.

“If it's significantly above that, it doesn't make any sense and we won't know that until we actually go out and have the bids,” he said.